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Best states for a leadership development program
Quoted expert
Caryn Beck-Dudley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like leadership development programs are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for leadership development programs aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Nebraska is the best state for leadership development programs, while Washington and Virginia are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Nebraska has a median salary of $77,579 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for leadership development programs.
We figured that the best places for leadership development program jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Nebraska is the best state for leadership development program jobs, whereas Maine is the worst.
10 best states for leadership development programs in 2026
1. Nebraska
Total leadership development program jobs: 393 Average annual salary: $77,579 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
2. Michigan
Total leadership development program jobs: 1,334 Average annual salary: $76,523 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
3. Pennsylvania
Total leadership development program jobs: 1,923 Average annual salary: $76,645 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
4. Montana
Total leadership development program jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $79,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
5. Kansas
Total leadership development program jobs: 424 Average annual salary: $75,912 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
6. Washington
Total leadership development program jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $112,712 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location Quotient: 0.27
7. South Dakota
Total leadership development program jobs: 199 Average annual salary: $69,276 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
8. Virginia
Total leadership development program jobs: 230 Average annual salary: $87,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 0.2
9. Wisconsin
Total leadership development program jobs: 996 Average annual salary: $70,248 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
10. Massachusetts
Total leadership development program jobs: 310 Average annual salary: $83,737 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 0.28
Leadership development program jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a leadership development program
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a leadership development program
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $77,579 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 393 |
| 2 | Michigan | $76,523 | $40,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,334 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $76,645 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,923 |
| 4 | Montana | $79,611 | $41,000 | 1,050,493 | 161 |
| 5 | Kansas | $75,912 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 424 |
| 6 | Washington | $112,712 | $61,000 | 7,405,743 | 232 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $69,276 | $38,000 | 869,666 | 199 |
| 8 | Virginia | $87,472 | $48,000 | 8,470,020 | 230 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $70,248 | $37,000 | 5,795,483 | 996 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $83,737 | $44,000 | 6,859,819 | 310 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $69,833 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 403 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $74,031 | $38,000 | 1,059,639 | 166 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $81,467 | $44,000 | 9,005,644 | 810 |
| 14 | New York | $78,689 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,628 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $68,714 | $36,000 | 579,315 | 105 |
| 16 | California | $86,201 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 961 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $66,967 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 408 |
| 18 | Iowa | $73,763 | $40,000 | 3,145,711 | 442 |
| 19 | Oregon | $76,062 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 511 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $74,968 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 669 |
| 21 | Maryland | $79,350 | $43,000 | 6,052,177 | 244 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $67,365 | $36,000 | 4,454,189 | 508 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $63,370 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 239 |
| 24 | Ohio | $65,854 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,455 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $71,657 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 452 |
| 26 | Utah | $69,170 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 404 |
| 27 | Delaware | $70,839 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 162 |
| 28 | Illinois | $66,181 | $35,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,202 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $63,600 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 292 |
| 30 | Nevada | $63,525 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 319 |
| 31 | Alaska | $65,810 | $32,000 | 739,795 | 128 |
| 32 | Indiana | $63,469 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 898 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $60,502 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,693 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $60,785 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 859 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $72,387 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 80 |
| 36 | Colorado | $67,912 | $36,000 | 5,607,154 | 699 |
| 37 | Idaho | $65,874 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 191 |
| 38 | Arizona | $64,513 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 754 |
| 39 | Alabama | $56,126 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 764 |
| 40 | Florida | $57,616 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,463 |
| 41 | Texas | $62,489 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,907 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $45,396 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 520 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $59,069 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 401 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $35,214 | $25,000 | 1,427,538 | 191 |
| 45 | Georgia | $52,699 | $29,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,703 |
| 46 | Vermont | $52,084 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 131 |
| 47 | Missouri | $57,225 | $31,000 | 6,113,532 | 774 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $46,939 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 259 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $56,292 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 563 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $48,927 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 404 |
| 51 | Maine | $52,892 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 152 |
Highest paying states for leadership development programs
| Rank | State | Avg. Leadership Development Program Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $77,579 |
| 2 | Michigan | $76,523 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $76,645 |
| 4 | Montana | $79,611 |
| 5 | Kansas | $75,912 |
| 6 | Washington | $112,712 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $69,276 |
| 8 | Virginia | $87,472 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $70,248 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $83,737 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $69,833 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $74,031 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $81,467 |
| 14 | New York | $78,689 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $68,714 |
| 16 | California | $86,201 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $66,967 |
| 18 | Iowa | $73,763 |
| 19 | Oregon | $76,062 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $74,968 |
| 21 | Maryland | $79,350 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $67,365 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $63,370 |
| 24 | Ohio | $65,854 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $71,657 |
| 26 | Utah | $69,170 |
| 27 | Delaware | $70,839 |
| 28 | Illinois | $66,181 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $63,600 |
| 30 | Nevada | $63,525 |
| 31 | Alaska | $65,810 |
| 32 | Indiana | $63,469 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $60,502 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $60,785 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $72,387 |
| 36 | Colorado | $67,912 |
| 37 | Idaho | $65,874 |
| 38 | Arizona | $64,513 |
| 39 | Alabama | $56,126 |
| 40 | Florida | $57,616 |
| 41 | Texas | $62,489 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $45,396 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $59,069 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $35,214 |
| 45 | Georgia | $52,699 |
| 46 | Vermont | $52,084 |
| 47 | Missouri | $57,225 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $46,939 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $56,292 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $48,927 |
| 51 | Maine | $52,892 |
Expert opinions on the best states for leadership development programs
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for leadership development programs to find work opportunities?
Caryn Beck-Dudley
President and CEO, AACSB International
Business education prepares learners for success in whatever passions they pursue. This year's graduates, and future graduates, are entering a challenging workforce. We know that some industries will thrive during a pandemic while others will falter, but it's important to recognize that market disruption also brings new entrepreneurial opportunities. Business schools can help guide learners and employees looking for a career change or those starting a business to see these challenges as opportunities by using critical thinking, analytics, and problem-solving to increase their chance of success.
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Updated January 8, 2025